By Nangamso Mabindla
12 March 2004

A group of nine youngsters from an East London school have decided to join in the ongoing education campaign to help end HIV/Aids. But they are spreading the message in their own way - through entertainment.

The newly formed dance group recently performed at the opening of the Ikwezi Lokusa Wellness Centre in Southernwood, entertaining the crowd - which included the Eastern Cape MEC for Education Nomsa Jajula - with a gumboots dance. The centre will provide basic health care to about 150 local residents living with HIV.

"We started the group in an effort to reach out to the youth and do something about HIV and Aids," says Xatyiswa Bulube. The Grade 12 learner says she is proud to have been part the function, as she values the effort the centre will make in the fight against HIV/Aids. "The subject of Aids is very close to my heart and I feel it is important to educate our generation about the dangers of the disease."

The group, seven girls and two boys, are all in either Grade 11 or Grade 12 at Commercial Park High School, a private school in Southernwood.

Another member of the dance troupe, Nandi Mthimni, says young people react better to messages from other young people - rather than to talks and lectures. "Through our dancing and singing we bring something different to our audiences. I think the youth become tired of long-winded speeches," she adds.

She urges youngsters to take the messages from Lovelife seriously. "Instead of stereotyping people, we need to take this disease seriously because there's no cure and it doesn't look like there'll be one for sometime."

The group also provide other forms of entertainment, such as performing gospel songs. "In fact," says Babalwa Mandaba, "we do anything that is entertaining. If we can make people happy - be it people with HIV, or the homeless, or orphans - we're happy to entertain them."

She points to the example set by Asanda Veni, who spoke at the opening of the Ikwezi Lokusa Wellness Centre of her experience on discovering she was HIV positive. "I was touched by her courage," Mandaba adds. "If young people like her can get involved in the fight against Aids, we will be able to win the battle."

The group, coordinated by Sibonile Mqombothi, says they would like to be more involved in performing at community events. "We would love to be involved in celebrating Youth Day, Heritage Day and World Aids Day."